Daily Readings - Fri Jan 08 2021

⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God⁶This is the One who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ. Not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies that the Christ is the Truth⁷For there are Three who give testimony in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. And these Three are One⁸And there are three who give testimony on earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood. And these three are one⁹If we accept the testimony of men, then the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater: that he has testified about his Son¹⁰Whoever believes in the Son of God, holds the testimony of God within himself. Whoever does not believe in the Son, makes him a liar, because he does not believe in the testimony which God has testified about his Son¹¹And this is the testimony which God has given to us: Eternal Life. And this Life is in his Son¹²Whoever has the Son, has Life. Whoever does not have the Son, does not have Life¹³I am writing this to you, so that you may know that you have Eternal Life: you who believe in the name of the Son of God

Luke

Chapter 5

¹²And it happened that, while he was in a certain city, behold, there was a man full of leprosy who, upon seeing Jesus and falling to his face, petitioned him, saying: "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.¹³And extending his hand, he touched him, saying: "I am willing. Be cleansed." And at once, the leprosy departed from him¹⁴And he instructed him that he should tell no one, "But go, show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your cleansing, just as Moses has commanded, as a testimony for them.¹⁵Yet word of him traveled around all the more. And great crowds came together, so that they might listen and be cured by him from their infirmities¹⁶And he withdrew into the desert and prayed

Sermon

In today's readings, we explore themes of faith, testimony, and the transformative power of belief. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus as the Son of God, highlighting that this belief overcomes the world and grants eternal life. John underscores the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, symbolizing the sacraments and the divine truth. This passage reassures us that our faith in Jesus is a source of eternal life, urging us to trust in His divine testimony. The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid scene of Jesus healing a leper. The leper's humble plea and Jesus' compassionate response illustrate the power of faith and compassion. Jesus' instruction to present himself to the priest serves as a public testimony of God's work. Despite the leper's obedience, news of the miracle spreads, drawing more people to Jesus. This story shows how faith leads to action and how our encounters with Jesus can inspire others. Both readings remind us that faith is both internal and external. Like the leper, our faith should lead us to boldness and trust in Jesus' power. As 1 John suggests, our belief in Jesus transforms us internally, granting eternal life, while externally, it leads to actions that testify to God's love. In our daily lives, let us embrace this faith, allowing it to guide our actions and inspire others, just as the leper's healing became a testament to God's grace.